Ripon residents urged not to form "wall of silence" for fears of reporting antisocial behaviour
Crimestoppers have launched a new campaign to support residents who are worried
Last updated 7th Feb 2022
People in Ripon who are worried about crime and antisocial behaviour are being urged to report it anonymously.
A new month-long campaign by the charity Crimestoppers has been launched in the city to help reduce crime by encouraging residents to speak up and pass on their crime information.
Whilst Ripon is famed for its history and culture, there have been concerns about crime affecting the city. A small minority of local people, as well as others who travel to the area, are believed to be carrying out crime.
Last summer a teenager was attacked in the street which shocked the local community.
Gemma Gibbs, Yorkshire Regional Manager for the charity Crimestoppers, said:
"Some people are fearful of retribution, and that's probably the main reason why people contact us. They're scared that if somebody found out that it was them that reported an individual or a particular crime that has happened, they're fearful of what might happen to them or what might happen to their family. We want to make sure that people who are fearful for that reason know that they can still do something and they can still report that information. But our guarantee is that they will contact us and nobody will ever know that they've actually reported to us. We take that information and we pass it onto the police.
"Last summer there were concerns around antisocial behaviour and a small number of people were really concerning the residents. A teenage boy was attacked in August last year and shopkeepers were being attacked as well. They don't just impact the individuals, they can have a real impact on families and the people around them, so we want to really highlight the work that we do to let the community of Ripon know that they don't have to stay silent. There doesn't need to be that wall of silence and we are here for them."
Crimestoppers, which is independent of the police, guarantees everyone who calls or uses the charity’s online form to pass on what they know, stays 100% anonymous.
The community has a vital role to play in helping stop crime such as burglary, theft from cars, vans and shops, the sale of stolen goods, drug dealing, weapons and violence. People know those who regularly bring crime to the area, but may not want to speak directly to the police. Crimestoppers is here to help and offers a safe and trusted anonymous option.
To pass on what you know, call our charity’s UK Contact Centre 24/7 on freephone 0800 555 111 or visit Crimestoppers-uk.org and complete a simple anonymous online form.
If you feel that someone is in imminent danger and needs help straight away dial 999, or if you wish to talk to the police, please contact them on 101.